(August 25, 2024) A brand new Grover Washington, Jr. album has been unearthed by Lightyear Entertainment. Grover Live Vol. 2, out on September 13, will mark 25 years since the passing of the immensely popular artist and pioneer, who was largely responsible for creating a bridge between jazz and R&B.
Grover Live Vol. 1 was recorded in Peekskill, New York in June of 1997, and released by Lightyear in 2010, followed by a double vinyl version in 2020. Grover 2, then, was recorded in Albuquerque, New Mexico, in 1998, is 95 minutes long, and features 6 songs that were not previously featured in the other Grover Live recordings.
Besides a new drummer in Richie Morales, Grover’s band on Vol. 2 is the same; In addition to Grover himself on tenor, soprano, alto, and baritone sax, Grover 2 features Donald Robinson on keyboards, Gerald Veasley on bass, Richard Lee Steacker on guitars, Richie Morales on drums, and Pablo Batista on congas and percussion. It was produced by Grammy winner Jason Miles, and Executive Produced by Christine Washington and Shana Washington. It is a stellar sounding live recording mixed by Patrick Murray, and mastered by Fred Kevorkian.
Both live recordings capture the essence of Grover’s greatness. With a coterie of ‘A’ class musicians in support, the legendary sax man’s work on this album demonstrates why he was not only a leader in his field but a pioneer capable of blending the subtleties of jazz with the funk and sweat of soul music. This stellar performance underlines why Grover was loved by his fans and musicians alike throughout the years. He was a one-of-a-kind contemporary jazz artist whose music topped the Smooth Jazz charts, but his sound was funky, and his music was respected in all jazz and R&B circles. His live performances and worldwide success prove that he was a timeless gem of an artist who entertained his audiences with a powerhouse band of some of the best players in the business. Now, through this newly discovered recording, today’s audiences get a unique sample of his multidimensional talent.
Come back in September, when we’ll be featuring Grover Live Vol. 2 here on SoulTracks!
Tracklisting
1. East River Drive
2. Take Five
3. Soulful Strut
4. Knucklehead
5. Moonstreams
6. Bordertown
7. Nature Boy
8. You Can’t Stop The Rain
9. Headman’s Haunt
10. Medley
11. Let It Flow
12. Mister Magic
